Council urged to bring forward decision to end social care charging
The East London Council of Tower Hamlets has been urged to move forward with its “bold” decision to become just the second council in England to abolish all charges for care and support for Disabled people in their own homes. The council says it will scrap all charges for community-based care and support services from April 2024.
Read more about the ending of social care charging on our website.
Government criticised for huge active travel budget cuts
The government has been heavily criticised for a recent announcement that it intends to cut capital investment in walking and cycling by two-thirds.
More information about the proposed active travel cuts is available on the DR UK website.
Prepayment meter ban extended by Ofgem
A ban on the forced installation of prepayment meters by energy companies has been extended beyond the end of March, Ofgem has announced, with the ban being in place “indefinitely”.
Learn more about the meter installation ban on the DR UK website.
Health and Disability White Paper: support not sanctions needed, says DR UK
The Government has published its Health and Disability White Paper – “Transforming Future Support”- that it says “sets out our ambitious reforms to help more disabled people and people with health conditions to start, stay and succeed in work and have a better experience of the benefits system”.
Read DR UK’s view on the Health and Disability White Paper and more on the White Paper on our website.
An Irish Goodbye wins best short film at Oscars
The Northern Irish film, An Irish Goodbye staring James Martin who has Down’s Syndrome, has won best live-action short film at the Oscars.
Learn more about the Oscar winning film.
Radical reform of benefits assessments for those with mental health problems essential, says Mind
Getting the right benefits can help those of us with a mental health problem to live with independence and dignity. In a new research report, Mind outlines what changes the Government needs to make to the benefits assessments system.
Learn more about the Mind report on our website.
Disability campaigner Baroness Masham dies
Baroness Masham, who set up the Spinal Injuries Association, has died aged 87. A lifelong disability campaigner, Baroness Masham was a Paralympian swimming and table tennis medallist throughout the 1960s, and became a life peer in the House of Lords in 1970. She was the longest serving female member of the House of Lords ever.
Read more about Baroness Masham on the DR UK website.
Report calls for safe and accessible streets
The charity Sustrans and the Disabled-led group Transport for All have worked together to explore access and barriers to local streets and make recommendations for change.
Learn more about the Disabled Citizens Inquiry on our website.
New Emergency Alerts service goes live
This new service will enable people to be contacted via their mobile phone if their lives are at risk in an emergency. The service will be sending out a welcome message on Sunday 23 April. The welcome message will be sent to all compatible phones in the UK. It will clearly indicate that no action is required and that this is a test of the system.
Get more information on the mobile emergency alerts on our website.
DR UK demands government make new residential buildings safer
As part of a coalition of organisations, built environment bodies, fire safety organisations and DPOs, DR UK has signed a joint letter on building safety to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Rt Hon Michael Gove MP.
Learn more about our building safety open letter on the DR UK website.
